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QNA reported that Qatar participated in the 41st meeting of the Directors General of Passports of the GCC states held at the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh. The delegation was led by Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Ateeq Al Dosari in his role as director-general of passports for the Ministry of Interior. Discussions during the August 1, 2026, session centred on practical ways to advance regional collaboration on immigration documentation. The gathering allowed for an exchange of best practices among the six member nations.
The Qatar News Agency detailed how the meeting addressed the development of passport operations alongside improvements to service delivery for travelers and citizens. Officials also prioritised greater integration between the various national systems to facilitate smoother cross-border movements. In addition, the participants coordinated on emerging challenges that require a unified response from GCC interior authorities. Appropriate recommendations were adopted to guide the follow-up work by specialised committees.
These technical meetings have become a mainstay of GCC cooperation since the council’s founding, according to the General Secretariat. The secretariat’s records place the 39th iteration of the gathering in June 2025, when comparable issues of system modernisation and joint training were on the table. Such continuity has enabled steady progress toward standardised procedures that benefit the bloc’s collective security posture and economic integration goals.
Qatar’s Ministry of Interior has consistently engaged in these forums to ensure national policies remain in sync with GCC-wide standards. The latest recommendations will be assessed for their potential to enhance efficiency in passport issuance and verification processes. This approach helps minimise discrepancies that could otherwise hinder the free movement of people within the region.
Arab News coverage of the event noted the active role played by Saudi officials in hosting and steering the proceedings toward concrete outcomes. The involvement of all member states ensured a comprehensive perspective on the agenda items under consideration. Follow-up mechanisms were established to monitor the execution of the adopted recommendations across the GCC countries.
